You are amazing. All of you. The support. The emails. The virtual hugs. The tweets. I’m so lucky to have you as friends. You all gave me warm fuzzies. I went to bed feeling them. I woke up and they were still there. There is no one in this world that I would rather be broke and overwhelmed with than all of you wonderful friends. We are all in this together!! Thank you. From the bottom of my heart.
The Oprah episode today! Wow, right? NieNie was on. For those of you who aren’t familiar with her blog…read it. She is beautiful, strong, amazing. She faces challenges every single day. And meets them head on. She is a true inspiration.
She puts it in perspective.
Those little things that make up what life is about.
Long hot showers.
Hugging our babies tight.
Lifting our faces to the sun.
Watching the leaves change colors.
Sitting on the couch with our spouse, holding hands.
Jumping out of bed in the morning.
Without all the little things. Those details we take for granted. Because we are too busy and overwhelmed looking at the bigger picture. The bills. The everyday demands. LIFE. The stress of it all.
Without the nuances.
The smiles.
The laughter.
The commotion.
The messes.
The love.
It’s nothing.
The timing of that particular Oprah episode, after the post I wrote last night. It was like…wow. Wake up. Take a good look around you woman.
I should be grateful for what I have.
I should appreciate the fact that my children want to be with me. That they still want a big hug and kiss from their Mommy. That they still call me Mommy, even though they are getting older. That my husband is my best friend and even though he exasperates and frustrates me, I still would rather be with him than anyone.
I should stop taking things for granted.
Kiss when cheeks are offered.
Hug when arms are opened.
Look up for that moment.
Listen to their words.
Not just nod and glance.
Just because I’ve been here, in body, with them. Doesn’t mean I’ve REALLY been here with them.
And I’m missing out on those little things.
My little things.
Because someday, when I’m not really listening. And I’m not really looking. Because I’m too self-absorbed in my stress and my life…
I may miss something.
Something that I should have heard. Or should have seen.
And I don’t ever want to look back and regret.
Because you never know.
And you only get one shot.
That. Is it.
So stop.
Because for every bad. For every unpaid bill. For every hardship. For every collection call.
There is something that makes this all worth it.
Family.
Friends.
Love.
Life.
Knowing that we are truly all in this together.
All too often I get wrapped up in daily life and miss what’s really important. This is a great reminder for me to stop and appreciate all the is RIGHT with my life.
Now THAT is a beautiful post!!!
Yes. True that my friend.
ahhh, the litle things in life are sometimes what we need to pull us through.
xo
It’s nice when you realize you are not alone. Even nicer when you look around you and really SEE. Thank you for writing what you have written today. We hold you close, Melissa.
Funny, I think you and I are leading parallel live right now, Melissa. Keep rocking, girl.
I am soo with you there!
I agree! Our online community always helps me feel better and reminds me that HEY take it slow and savor these moments because one day you’ll wake up and the kiddos will be all grown up.
Absolutely true and so well said, Melissa! We should be thankful for everything we are blessed to have in our lives. xo
All of those reasons? Those are why I write my blog. It reminds me when I’m frustrated with the husband, the children, the life… it reminds me why I love them, and helps me to sort through the crap to find the goodness.
I’m so glad you’re still feeling the fuzzies! 🙂
Thank you. I needed that today. Been in a little funk myself. And thank you for sharing your life and being so REAL! XO
I found the link to the Nie on Oprah. A small segment but powerful none the less: http://www.oprah.com/media/20090924-tows-stephanie-struggle-crash
Always here. And thank you, for this is the post I needed today after writing my own soul draining one.
great new perspective on things … and so quickly!
uncalled for tip: practice gratitude morning and night in bed; say your thanks over and over ~ never forget to. perhaps take a moment in the morning to tell yourself, “i’m going to make something out of this day and do this ….” and in bed at the end, review the day. if you accomplished everything, then great! If you didn’t, promise yourself to try again tomorrow and repeat step one in the morning 🙂 another thing i like to do is “3 things” – every day sit down with a journal and list one beautiful thing about the day, one thing you are grateful for today and one self-positive ~ it’s great for perspective and harder than you might think after awhile (though it should only take less than 5 mins out of your day).
we are all human ~ complicated beings. the goal is to build inner strength so our bodies and minds can overcome all obstacles.
positivity and gratitude are HUGE. i’m so proud of you xo
I’m at home with a sick kid (he’s doing okay, much better really) and when I took him off the couch to shake off the crumbs of his cereal bar, he did a funny little shimmy. It made me laugh and I just felt all this love for him, just for that one little dance he did to shake off crumbs.
You’re right, it’s the little things.
I love you!
I am sorry I missed that episode of Oprah, but your post is most inspiring.
How important it is to remember the little things that make this life worth the living..that make us smile. Thanks for reminding us:)